Roll delivery apparatus

ABSTRACT

A delivery apparatus for rolls (e.g. of paper) in a horizontal position and delivering them in a vertical position comprises a tilting table, means for clamping a roll on the table, and drive means (e.g. a hydraulic ram) for moving the table from a horizontal to a vertical position. The clamping means conveniently comprises a pair of relatively movable members extending at right angles to the table, and the table may have a movable surface to allow a roll to shift thereon without rubbing.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Lawrence Jowsey;

Frank William Wilshin, both of London,

England [2]] Appl. No. 766,827 [22] Filed Oct. 11,1968 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Assignees Masson Scott Thrissell Engineering Limited London, England; Walmsleys (Wigan) Limited Wigan, England, a part interest to each [32] Priority Oct. 17, 1967 [3 3] Great Britain [31] 47,199/67 [54] ROLL DELIVERY APPARATUS 3,082,888 3/1963 Eichler 214/55 1,887,134 11/1932 .lohancen et al., 214/130X 2,520,252 8/1950 Mutchler 214/1(R)X 2,667,062 1/1954 Johns 214/l(R)X 2,947,125 8/1960 Wilson et al. 214/1 (R)X 3,239,944 3/1966 Gebert 214/1(R)X 3,395,813 8/1968 Bruce et al. 2l4/1(R)X 3,441,148 4/1969 Pim 2l4/1(R) FOREIGN PATENTS 864,780 4/1961 Great Britain 214/1(R) Primary EraminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerFrank E. Werner AttorneyCraig, Antonelli, Stewart & Hill 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S. A delivery apparatus for 0115 of paper) in 3 214/130 horizontal position and delivering them in a vertical position [5 lI-lt. com rises a tilting table means for clamping a roll on the ta- [50] Field of Search 214/1 R, 1, w and drive means (e g a hydraulic mm) f moving h 130 C, 652 table from a horizontal to a vertical position. The clamping means conveniently comprises a pair of relatively movable [56] Reerenm cued members extending at right angles to the table, and the table UNITED STATES PATENTS may have a movable surface to allow a roll to shift thereon 2,508,698 5/1950 Von Beren 2l4/652UX without rubbing.

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ROLL DELIVERY APPARATUS This invention relates to delivery apparatus for rolls of paper or like material. For convenience in the following description reference will only be made to apparatus embodying the invention when used in conjunction with a paper winder/slitter, but it should be understood that the invention may equally be applied to the handling of rolls of paper delivered by other types of machine or rolls of other materials.

Paper winders and slitters conventionally are arranged horizontally, i.e., the axes of their supply and takeup reels are horizontal from which it follows that their guide and/or pressure rollers, slitters, and so on are similarly disposed. Hence it follows that whenever a roll of paper is to be unloaded from the machine it is convenient to do so with the roll axis horizontal. As the roll to be unloaded is usually formed some distance above the floor on which the machine stands, a lowering or tilting table is often provided to bring the roll (whose weight is usually several tons) to near floor level where it may readily be transferred to a truck.

In some instances, however, it is desirable to swing the roll to a vertical position for removal; this can easily be done by employing a truck with grippers which can firmly embrace and lift a horizontal roll and then rotate through a right angle. However, this method is not always suitable; for example, with rolls of crepe paper of low mechanical strength it may not be permissible to use grippers embracing the roll.

According to the invention, there is provided delivery apparatus for rolls of paper or the like, comprising a table movable between horizontal and vertical positions, clamping means secured to said table and adapted to engage the'ends of a roll placed thereon, and drive means for moving said table from its horizontal to its vertical position.

The table of the apparatus, when horizontal, will necessarily be in alignment with, and adjacent to the delivery end of, an associated machine such as a paper winder/slitter. The table may pivot about one of its ends to reach the vertical position or may have a pivot part way along its length, the pivotal axis being in any event horizontal and at right angles to the axis of a roll lying upon the table.

It is convenient to have the pivot at one end of the table, as then when the table is in the vertical position any roll on the table is well clear of the associated machine, although this position of the pivot means that the drive means, which conveniently takes the form of one or more hydraulic rams, has to be capable of exerting a considerable effort to move the table from the horizontal to the vertical position; with the pivot part way along the length of the table, the weight of the roll is in part balanced and less effort is required from the drive means.

It should also be noted that the position of the pivot also affects the height of the roll when brought to the vertical positionwhen the pivot is at one end of the table, no part of the table descends as the table moves from horizontal to vertical, while with the pivot part-way along the table, one end of the table descends as the other end rises during such movement. Selection of the pivot position in any particular application of the invention will therefore in part depend upon the relative heights at which rolls are to be received and delivered.

The table, when horizontal, need not be at the level at which rolls are removed from the associated machine, as a conventional lowering or tilting table may be interposed between the machine and the delivery apparatus embodying the invention.

In order that the invention may be well understood, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described in more detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a delivery apparatus embodying the invention, with adjoining parts of an associated machine;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in one position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the apparatus in another position;

FIG. 4 is a detail of the apparatus of FIG. 1, shown in plan;

FIG. 5 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2 ofa modified apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a plan view ofthe apparatus of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a detail section on line VII-VII of FIG. 5.

The delivery apparatus embodying the invention is shown in FIG. 1 with adjoining parts ofa paper winder/slitter indicated generally at I. The winder/slitter I produces rolls of paper at 2, and a tilting table 3 is provided for lowering completed rolls. Within the winder/slitter 1 is provided a pusher (not shown) for initially moving each completed roll towards the table 3 (the two extreme positions of the latter are shown, one in full line and the other chain-dotted).

Reference 4 indicates generally the delivery apparatus embodying the invention; it comprises a table 5 with a pivot 6 at one end, the axis of pivot 6 extending at right angles to the length of the roll produced by the winder/slitter 1. Below the table 5 a hydraulic ram 7 is mounted between a fixed anchorage 8 and a bracket 9 secured to the table 5; it will be apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3 that admission of pressure fluid to the ram 7 will cause the table 5 to move from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3.

Upon the table 5 are mounted two clamping members 10, 11; the members 10, 11 are slidable lengthwise of table 5 and have drive means in the form of hydraulic rams l2, l3 respectively, each of these rams being connected between its associated clamping member and the table 5, so that when pressure fluid is supplied to both the rams 12, 13 the members l0, 11 are urged together to grip the roll 2. It will be appreciated that this clamping is needed to hold the roll 2 when the table is in the position shown in FIG. 3, especially because the winder/slitter 1 produces rolls 2 which are not in one piece, but comprise a plurality of abutted narrow rolls such as 2A, 23 (FIG. 2).

As the clamping members 10, 11 are moved together to clamp the roll 2, the latter may tend to move on the table 5; the table is therefore provided with a movable surface to avoid damage to the outer layers of paper on roll 2 when such movement occurs. The movable surface is formed by two belts 14, 15 (FIGS. 1 and 4) each carried by a plurality of rollers 16. The rollers 16 (and hence also the belts l4, 15) are inclined symmetrically so that they tend to conform to the curvature of the roll 2 (FIG. 1).

It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the clamping members 10, 11 are U-shaped; this form leaves the center of roll 2 unobstructed, so that spindle 17 (FIGS. 1 and 2) on which roll 2 was wound can be extracted while the roll 2 is clamped to the table 5, while the latter is horizontal (FIG. 2).

In operation, each roll 2 emerges from the winder/slitter l on to table 3, the latter being in the position shown chaindotted in FIG. 1, and the table 3 tilts to the position shown in full line, delivering the roll 2 on to the table 5 which must of course be in its horizontal position, with clamping members 10, 11 fully separated. Rams 12, 13 are then energized, to bring members 10, 11 together to clamp roll 2, and as this occurs the roll 2 can move longitudinally with belts 14, 15 if necessary. Spindle 17 is then extracted after which ram 7 is energized, and platform 5 moves to the position shown in FIG. 3, with roll 2 vertical. As indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3, with the roll 2 in this position, a fork truck 18 may conveniently be employed to remove the roll 2, and in this event it is convenient to have a pallet 19 below the roll 2, to provide a buffer between the roll 2 and the forks 20 of the truck 18. With this in view, clamping member 11 (which is the clamping member nearer to pivot 6, and hence below the roll 2 when the latter has been brought to the vertical position) is provided with a pallet retaining hook 21 operated by a hydraulic ram 22.

The pallet 19, when required, is therefore placed in the position shown in FIG. 2 before roll 2 is received on table 5, (very conveniently immediately after removal of a previous roll, while the member 11 is horizontal) and ram 22 is energized to cause the hook 21 to engage said pallet and retain it in position. Upon operation of the clamping members 10, 11 the pallet 19 is clamped against the end of the roll 2 which becomes its bottom when the table 5 has been moved to the position of FIG. 3. Once the truck 18 has been brought up and its forks are inserted below the pallet 19 (as shown in FIG. 3) then energization of rams 1'2 13 and 22 is discontinued, so that the clamping members 10, ll cease to grip the roll 2 and hook 21 falls away from pallet 19; the forks 20 of truck 18 then carry the roll 2, on its pallet, and the truck 18 can be driven away carrying the roll 2.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 to 7, the modified apparatus shown in these FIGS. is in large part similar to the apparatus of FIGS.

I to 4, and the following description deals only with features of difference.

Firstly, referring back to FIG. 2, it will be clear that the hydraulic ram 7 is required to exert a very large force to commence moving the table 5, as the line of action of the ram 's effort lies very close to the pivot 6. The apparatus of FIGS. 5 to 7 has a table 1105 pivoted at I06 and moved by a ram 107, but it will be seen from FIG. 5 that the ram 107 is so mounted as to have more leverage on the table 105, so that less initial effort is needed from the ram. In part, this is achieved by placing the pivot I06 lower than the pivot 6 of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 4, and this alteration of the pivot position has another result; table 105 has clamping members 110, III (corresponding to members 10, 11) and when the table I05 is moved to the vertical position, the clamping member Ill near to pivot 106 is brought to a lower position than is the member of FIGS. I- 4. This is of advantage in various circumstances, e.g., where rolls delivered by the apparatus are to be weighed on a weigher sunk in the floor before removal. The position assumed by clamping member III when table 105 is vertical is indicated in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 5 and it will be apparent that the floor F on which the apparatus is mounted must have a sufficient depression D to receive the member 110 unless the apparatus is supported above floor level.

It is also readily seen from FIG. 5 that the modified apparatus shown includes a main support frame comprising two side frames each having uprights I25, I26, a top member I27, a bottom member 128 and two bracing struts I29; crossbcams I30 connect the two side frames. The pivot I06 is provided by a shaft joumaled in the uprights I25. The main support frame carries the weight of table 105 when the latter is horizontal, cross-girders I32 forming part of the table 105 resting on the top members 127. The fixed anchorage of ram I07 is provided by a short shaft 131 carried by a crossmember (not shown) between the top members 127.

The clamping member 111 is fixed relative to table 105, so that rolls are delivered by the apparatus at a standard height. Clamping member I10 has brackets 133 to which wheels 13 are joumaled, the wheels 134 running in channels I35 secured to the sides of table I05 (said channels extending parallel to the length of the table and having their flanges horizontal). A hydraulic ram I13 is mounted on the table 105 and connected to the member 110 to provide drive means for moving the latter to-and-fro as required (i.e., into and out of clamping engagement with a roll placed on the table).

The table I05 is provided with a movable surface, but instead of employing belts similar to the belts 14, we provide a metal plate 136 of flattened V-form (FIG. 7). The plate I36 is supported by several pairs of inclined rollers 138 journaled on table I05, and said plate 136 is biased to the right (as seen in FIG. 5) by a compression spring 139 carried on a guide rod 140 between brackets 1411, 142 respectively secured to the plate 136 and to the table 105. An elongated screw 143 extending across the apparatus carries a nut I44 nonrotatably secured to a cam plate 145 having an inclined edge I46 engaging a follower 147 carried by the bracket 141. The screw 143 is carried by brackets secured to one of the cross-girders 132 and has a handwheel 148 at one of its ends; thus by rotation of this handwheel the screw can be turned, causing the nut I44 and plate 145 to move across the apparatus; the inclined edge 146 either moves the follower 147 and hence the plate 136 to the left (FIG. 5), compressing spring I39, or tries to move away from the follower I47, allowing the plate 136 to move to the right, according to the direction of rotation of the handwheel 148.

When the apparatus of FIGS. 5 to 7 is in use, before a roll is delivered to it the plate 136 is suitably positioned by operation of the handwheel 148. When correctly positioned, the plate 136 has its left-hand end (as seen in FIG. 5) slightly to the right of the left'hand end of the roll, i.e., the latter projects slightly over the left-hand end of the plate 136. Once this adjustment of plate 136 has been made (the position at which the roll will be delivered being of course predictable) a roll 102 (FIG. 5) may be delivered to the apparatus; as soon as the roll 102 has arrived, hydraulic ram 113 is operated to move member 110 to the left and the roll is thus clamped between the members 110, 111. During this clamping operation, the roll 102 is moved to the left until it encounters the member III, and the plate 136 travels with the roll 102, running easily over rollers 138, and the follower I47 moves away from the inclined edge 146 of cam plate I45, spring 139 becoming more compressed.

With the roll 102 clamped, hydraulic ram 107 is operated and the table 105 rotates through to its vertical position. During this movement, the plate I36 is progressively relieved of the weight of the roll I02 and as the table is approaching its vertical position, the component of the rolls weight acting on the plate I36 becomes so small that it becomes insufficient to hold the plate 136 frictionally against the action of the compressed spring 139 and the latter returns the plate 136 to the position at which it was set for reception of the roll 102. (It will be appreciated that the follower 147 may strike the edge 146 rather violently at the end of this return movement, and if desired means may be provided to slow the movement of the plate 136, e.g., the rod 140 may be replaced by a telescopic hydraulic clamper.)

Preferably a pallet I19 is placed between the member III and the roll 102 before the latter is clamped between the members 110, III. The apparatus can handle rolls of a range of sizes, but it is desirable to use pallets of standard size and always to center the roll upon the pallet. Accordingly, we prefer to provide an adjustable stop 149 to locate the pallet 119 when the latter is placed against the member I 11; the stop 149 may be adjustable in any convenient way and is shown only diagrammatically.

Once the table I05 carrying roll 102 has reached its vertical position, it may be removed by any convenient means, e.g., a forklift truck, once the clamping members relax their grip on the roll which is of course accomplished by operation of the hydraulic ram 113 to move member away from member 111. If it is desired to weigh each roll 102 as it leaves the apparatus, this can be very conveniently done by providing a weigher sunk in the floor below the position to which the roll is brought by the table 105; the member 111 could then for example be of a forklike form (e.g., like member I0, FIG. I) so that as it approaches the horizontal (table 105 approaches the vertical) the member 111 partially surrounds a weigher platform.

One or both of the members 110, 111 may be so formed as to permit extraction of a spindle from each roll 102, as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 (roll 2 and spindle 17). Member 111 may also be provided with means (not shown) for retaining a pallet I19, e.g., a hook akin to the hook 21 (FIGS. 1-4).

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Delivery apparatus for rolls of material such as paper, comprising a table movable between horizontal and vertical positions, first drive means for moving said table between horizontal and vertical positions, clamping members mounted on opposite ends of said table and adapted to engage the ends of a roll placed on said table, second drive means for urging at least one of said clamping members towards the other clamping member, and carrier means mounted on said table and freely movable with said roll by said second drive means along a path between said clamping members for supporting said rolls whereby damage to the outer layers of paper in said rolls when said rolls are moved by said clamping members may be avoided.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the table is pivotally mounted for said movement between vertical and horizontal positions.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the table has a pivot at one of its ends.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the table has a pivot intermediate its ends.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim I in which the first drive means comprises a hydraulic ram.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the second drive means for urging the clamping members together comprises at least one hydraulic ram.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim I in which both of said clamping members are movable relative to the table.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim I in which one of said clamping members is fixed relative to the table.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said table is pivotally mounted at one of its ends for movement between vertical and horizontal positions and the fixed clamping member is at the end of the table having the pivot.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the carrier means comprises a pair of endless belts carried on frccly rotatable rollers mounted on the table.

1]. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the carrier means comprises a plate movably supported on the table.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which means is provided for continuously biasing said movably supported plate in one direction and an adjustable stop member is provided for adjusting the normal position ofsaid plate.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the table and clamping members are arranged to accommodate a pallet adjacent to one ofthe clamping members.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which said one of the clamping members includes releasable means for retaining said pallet.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which said retaining means comprises a pivotally mounted hook.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further comprising adjustable stop means for locating a pallet relative to a roll on said carrier means whereby pallets may be centered with respect to rolls having different diameters on said carrier means. 

1. Delivery apparatus for rolls of material such as paper, comprising a table movable between horizontal and vertical positions, first drive means for moving said table between horizontal and vertical positions, clamping members mounted on opposite ends of said table and adapted to engage the ends of a roll placed on said table, second drive means for urging at least one of said clamping members towards the other clamping member, and carrier means mounted on said table and freely movable with said roll by said second drive means along a path between said clamping members for supporting said rolls whereby damage to the outer layers of paper in said rolls when said rolls are moved by said clamping members may be avoided.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the table is pivotally mounted for said movement between vertical and horizontal positions.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the table has a pivot at one of its ends.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the table has a pivot intermediate its ends.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the first drive means comprises a hydraulic ram.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the second drive means for urging the clamping members together comprises at least one hydraulic ram.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which both of said clamping members are movable relative to the table.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which one of said clamping members is fixed relative to the table.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said table is pivotally mounted at one of its ends for movement between vertical and horizontal positions and the fixed clamping member is at the end of the table having the pivot.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the carrier means comprises a pair of endless belts carried on freely rotatable rollers mounted on the table.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the carrier means comprises a plate movably supported on the table.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which means is provided for continuously biasing said movably supported plate in one direction and an adjustable stop member is provided for adjusting the Normal position of said plate.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the table and clamping members are arranged to accommodate a pallet adjacent to one of the clamping members.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which said one of the clamping members includes releasable means for retaining said pallet.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which said retaining means comprises a pivotally mounted hook.
 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further comprising adjustable stop means for locating a pallet relative to a roll on said carrier means whereby pallets may be centered with respect to rolls having different diameters on said carrier means. 